Hokusai Extension Activities

These activities are not required for class, but I hope they will spark your curiosity and imagination.

Create:

Hokusai is famous for his colorful prints. To create your own fall themed stamp to use with your tempera paint, visit Happy Scribbles. Their instructions are simple and you probably have all of the supplies in your home

Watch:

The Smithsonian Channel has produced several videos about Hokusai including this one which shows exactly how wood-block printing was historically done. Did you know that SPIT was involved? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Read:

Deborah Kogan Ray has written an excellent children's biography of Hokusai entitled "Hokusai: The Man Who Painted A Mountain." There are a couple of copies available through the Greater Manchester library system, so take a look!

Consider:

Remember when we discussed the names of God and we talked about the Lion and Lamb? I held out on some of the story because I wanted to give families time to discuss this a bit at home.

The name "Lion of Judah" isn't just about ferociousness, and "Lamb of God" isn't just about gentleness. The animals are the literal translations, and have symbolic meaning to our own ears, but there is more to the story. In Revelation 5:6 we learn that Jesus left as the sacrificial Lamb of God, but will return as the conquering Lion of Judah.

• We know that we as humans aren't perfect. We sin and we cannot be in God's presence because of that sin. We also know that in the end the "Lion of Judah"will exact final judgement, because he rules over all things.
• It is Jesus' sacrifice as the "Lamb of God" through his death on the cross that makes it possible for us to live eternally with him, because he has taken away the sins of the world and has overcome death.

I know...Deep stuff for the beginning of the year in an art class. If you are interested, you can read more about it here, and I am always available if you have any questions.

Planning Ahead:

Next month's outreach project is to create artwork for Operation Christmas Child.

Your children are more than welcome to bring in items to send, but this is not in any way mandatory. If you are interested in participating you can get more information on how to pack your shoebox through Samaritan's Purse.

Have fun!

Monet Extension Activities

It is easy to get fully absorbed in the beautiful paintings by Monet. Thankfully, there are many online exhibits to lead you through his works. InterMonet will walk you through many collections. While you are at the site, don't miss Monet's brief autobiography; fascinating reading.

You may also want to look for Katie Meets the Impressionists by James Mayhew at your local library. This book beautifully draws children into the works of Monet and other impressionists through the fun tale of a little girl who quite literally climbs into the artists' work to gather flowers for her grandmother.

Monet's fascination with painting the same subject repeatedly makes his work fun to analyze. Take a look at the many variations of his Haystack series. Can your child determine what season and time of day it is based on the colors and shadows?

Monet's work is so beloved that you can easily spot reproductions in your daily life. Keep your eyes open and you will find more than just prints in the craft supply store. His paintings are often reproduced on umbrellas, tote bags, and more.

Try making a Monet inspired sponge painting using the instructions at KinderArt. Take your paints outside to get the best natural light for your subject, or try copying one of Monet's famous works.

There are lots of great coloring pages of Monet's work. Take a look at these:

Picnic

Parasol

Garden (lots of detail in this one)

We have used lots of different art supplies during the course of the year. Try doing the same coloring page in pastels, paints, and crayons. Compare your results. Which is your favorite? Which looks most like the work of Monet?

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our art show next month where we will get to put all of these great artist in order while we create our timeline. Don't forget to bring in your favorite artwork to share.